College of Saint Benedict-Saint John's University

CSCI 310
Computer Organization
Spring Semester, 2016

 

Instructor:      Jim Schnepf                 
Office:             SJU Science Center  201
Phone:             3073                           
Office Hours: Days M,W: 12:30-2:00  or by appointment
Homepage:
www.users.csbsju.edu/~jschnepf
Email: jschnepf@csbsju.edu

 

TEXTS:  Warford, J Stanley:  Computer  Systems

 

Course Overview: This course is an introduction to computer systems and architecture. While computers seem like magic boxes to many people, to a computer scientist, they are no mystery. Topics covered include digital systems, machine level data representation, processor design, assembly level machine organization, memory systems, system control, organization of operating systems, concurrency, and scheduling. We will focus on the layered architecture of computer systems in order to understand how parts operate and cooperate to make an integrated machine. An important outcome of this course is helping you become a better programmer and a better computer scientist. Students who complete the class successfully should be able to:


Assignments: There will be  some written assignments in addition to the assigned readings.  It is critical that you do these assignments.  Not only will they be the basis of class discussion, but quiz questions will be directly related to the assignments.




Evaluation:  During the semester, there will be a total of 500 points available.  These will be approximately as follows:

     

Assignments
60
Quizzes
120
In-Class Exams
200
Final Exam
120
Total
500



Your grade is determined by the amount of points that you earn. 


Points

Grade

450+

A

435-450

AB

400-434

B

385-399

BC

350-384

C

335-349

CD

300-334

D

299-

F

Anyone who has accumulated 350 points prior to the final may skip the final and still receive an A.


SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS


Student needing special accommodations or who have special needs are invited to share this information with the instructor as early as possible.


ACADEMIC HONESTY

Work must be completed in a manner consistent with the College of Saint Benedict’s & Saint John’s University's codes for academic honesty. All outside work and/or ideas used in any part of this course must be properly attributed; all forms of plagiarism including – but not limited to – copying the ideas and the written and/or spoken words of others and copying or annexing computer files from other people are strictly prohibited. All acts of plagiarism, cheating, or other academic misconduct are considered forms of academic dishonesty and are strictly prohibited. Such instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the appropriate personnel and officials.  Any writing assignment or programming project that is not your original work will be graded as a zero. A second offence will result in an F for a grade for the course.  Please refer to the most recent version of the College of Saint Benedict’s & Saint John’s University's Academic Catalog for further relevant information and guidelines on this matter.
 


Tentative Class Schedule (subject to change):

Dates Topics
Notes
 Jan 12, 14

Overview, C++

Ch 1, 2, C++ Tutorial
Jan 19, 21

C++/Data Representation

Ch 2, 3
Jan 26, 28

Data Representation

Ch 3
Feb 2, 4

Architecture

Ch 4
Feb 9, 11

Architecture

Ch 4
Feb 16, 18

Exam I/Assembly Language

Ch 5
Feb 23, 25

Assembly Language/Compilation

Ch 5, 6
March 1, 3

Compilation

Ch 6
March 8, 10

Compilation/Processes

Ch 6, 8
March 15, 17

Exam II/Storage Management

Ch 9
March 22, 24

Break

Ch 11
March 29, 31
Storage Management Ch 9
April 5, 7
Circuits Ch 10
April 12, 14
Circuits Ch 10, 11
April 19
Circuits Ch 11
April 26, 28
Computer Organization Ch 12
Friday, May  6,8:00-10:00

Final Exam